RECURRENCE AND EMERGENCE OF INFECTIOUS-DISEASES IN DJIBOUTI CITY

Public health authorities are now increasingly concerned by changes in the epidemiology of infectious diseases which may have an adverse imp act on their budget plans and control strategies. Rapid increases in p opulation and urban migration, various ecological changes, increasing poverty, and a rise in international travel have contributed to the wo rldwide vulnerability of human populations to the emergence, recurrenc e or spread of infectious diseases. In the rapidly growing city of Dji bouti in East Africa, public health priorities have been altered durin g the last 10 years by diseases which were unknown or under control un til the early 1980s, These diseases, including malaria, AIDS, tubercul osis, dengue fever and cholera, are consuming considerable resources, This article on Djibouti illustrates the epidemiological changes in th e region, Besides the specific ecological and behavioural changes, whi ch accompany a rapid population growth, poverty seems to be a major ca use for the emergence and recurrence of infectious diseases.